The Rarity of Oboe Players

[KUguardgrl13]

Alrighty, so one of the traditions in my school is that the Concert Orchestra (top) and some members of the Wind Ensemble play symphonic pieces at the orchestra concerts. This year, we want to play two movements from Carmen: "1a. The Aragonaisse" and "5. Les Toreadors". The issue: "The Aragonaisse" has a major oboe solo (probably soli in a full symphonic setting). Oboes are few and far between, so one of the clarinets offered to play it when he's usually not playing. Otherwise we can only play Les Toreadors which is cool, but it'd be cooler to do both. Keep in mind that the solo has to carry over a full string orchestra plus woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Opinions?

[heepwah2you04]

Couldn't you have a flute play the oboe part?

[KUguardgrl13]

i guess the clarinetist was the one who offered to transpose it.

[tinkerbell]

It would be easier for a flutist to play it. They're in the same key. Also, are there any good high schools nearby? We don't have any french horns, and we pay some french horn players from a neighboring high school $20 per concert to play with our orchestra.

A trumpet would also be effective as it is loud and has a similar sound as an oboe at times.

[mandadm]

We used a muted trumpet this year for one of the songs we played. I can't remember what it was though... It was for the cues though...

[altoclarinets]

An idea haere would be to start someone on an oboe. Your bd, if he/ she has a music ed degree, should have been instructed in teaching all instruments on a basic level, or you could convince one of the more affluent kids to do it and get a private teacher. A very good idea would be to get a kid who is looking into music ed himself; as I mentioned, he would have to get a basic course on all the instruments in college, so the more he knows by the end of high school, the better. If you can't find any oboist, the closest instrument in timbre is actually a soprano sax. If the school has one, great, if not, borrow one from an area school or college, or perhaps rent from a local music store.

[1frodos1]

If you want a flute to play oboe make sure it doesnt have notes below the flute range(c below the staff or Bb it they have a good flute)and the part runs fairly high; as a flute playing oboe parts its impossible to hear solos over the rest of the band when in the low range

[KUguardgrl13]

this is for the orchestra tho, not band, and the concert is feb 12, so probably not enough time for someone to learn oboe. i guess we decided on clarinet because it sounds more similar to oboe than flute does. it's also the district concert, so the elementary and middle school students and parents really won't care either way.